Storyline 2: Syncing Motion Path Animations

In this tutorial, we'll look at using triggers to synchronize motion path animations in Articulate Storyline. (To learn how to sync entrance and exit animations, see this tutorial.)

When you add a motion path animation to an object, a trigger will automatically be added to the Triggers panel for the motion path. It defaults to triggering the motion path when the timeline of the object starts, but you can change it.

Triggering Motion Paths Based on Learners' Actions

It's easy to trigger a motion path when learners perform a certain action. Just double-click the Move trigger in the Triggers panel to open it for editing, then adjust the parameters of the trigger. For example, let's say you want the motion path to occur when learners click an object. You'd change the When parameter to User clicks.

Other examples might include triggering the motion path when the state of an object is visited or when the value of a variable changes. If you need help editing triggers, see this tutorial.

Syncing Motion Paths with the Slide's Timeline

To synchronize a motion path animation with the slide's timeline, do this:

Double-click the Move trigger in the Triggers panel to open it for editing.

Change the When parameter to Timeline reaches, then choose an option from the corresponding drop-down:

Time: Choose this option to trigger your motion path at a specific time, then enter the exact time in seconds.

Tip: If you sync a motion path with a cue point and later move the cue point to a different time, the motion path will also move to the new time. In other words, it'll remain synchronized with the cue point you selected no matter when the cue point occurs. On the other hand, if you delete the cue point, your motion path will remain intact, and it'll occur at the point on the timeline where the cue point was when it was deleted.